India's Asian Games 2026 medal surge

India's Asian Games 2026 campaign surged with a historic first gold in trap shooting and a growing boxing medal haul. The nation's tally stood at 52 medals after Day 9, comprising 6 gold, 21 silver, and 25 bronze, placing it tenth in the overall standings.

Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai secured India's first-ever Asian Games gold in the mixed team trap event. Their winning score of 34 set a new Games record. Dhanda, who had previously claimed silver in the women's shotgun trap, also won India's first gold in that individual event.

Boxing medal haul

India added two boxing bronzes through debutants Priya Ghanghas and Kapil Pokhariya. The 20-year-old Ghanghas took bronze in the women's 60kg category after a 1-4 split-decision loss to Yang Chengyu in the semifinal. In the men's 90kg division, Pokhariya earned bronze following his semifinal defeat to Turabek Khabibullaev.

Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain advanced to the women's 75kg final with a split-decision win over Natalya Bogdanova. Borgohain, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, will aim for gold. "She will want to break the jinx and add a gold to her medal accolades in major events," Borgohain said. Ankush Panghal and Parveen Hooda had already secured their places in gold medal bouts.

Archery and athletics success

India's archers completed a gold-medal hat-trick as the men's compound team defeated China 238-237 in a tight final. The nation's action in athletics concluded with more relay success. The women's 4x400m relay team won gold, powered by a superb final burst from Vithya Ramraj. Medals also came in the mixed 4x100m relay and the men's 4x400m relay.

Gulveer Singh added a bronze in the men's 5000m, his third medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Games after twin silvers in the 10,000m and 1500m.

Hockey and other events

The Indian women's hockey team faced South Korea, a five-time Asian Games winner, in the semi-finals. The team aimed for gold and an Olympic quota for LA 2028. India last won gold in women’s hockey in 1982, having "won a silver and two bronzes in the last three editions."

Day 11, which was September 30, began early for India with golf events at 3 am IST. Esports, Sepaktakraw, and archery followed around 5:30 am IST. The nation contested for medals in at least ten events across archery, boxing, shooting, sport climbing, judo, and wrestling. Shooter Anish Bhanwala was set to compete in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event.

India's day ended on the track with the women's 4x400m relay team's gold medal victory, sealed by Vithya Ramraj's decisive final burst.